At night, Kaen snuck out unnoticed. While Rourke slept peacefully, Kaen stepped into abandoned gates, his form shrouded in darkness. He hunted silently. The beasts inside didn't just fear him - they were consumed by him.
Kaen devoured their essence, turning their shadows into his own.
He found joy in human simplicity, yet he couldn't deny the thrill of feeding on monsters.
They were raw energy, and he was recovering. With every hunt, a piece of his former self returned. By now, he estimated his strength had reached +SSS, though no system could properly scan him.
After one quiet dinner with Rourke, they discussed the world's future. Rourke encouraged him to try the Hunter Academy - the gateway for all powerful awakeners. Kaen agreed. Within days, he had aced the
written tests and breezed through the combat trials - all while suppressing his true abilities.
He entered the top 10 students of the entire continent.
The academy labeled him "gifted" but underestimated him deeply.
"Let's keep it interesting," Kaen whispered, licking an ice cream cone on his way to class.
Even the void grows bored. Kaen was waiting for something... or someone